Travel tips and tricks for a perfect Disney World vacation
Planning the perfect Walt Disney World vacation can be tedious work. From booking airfares or transportation to paying for theme park tickets to looking for a place to stay the night to know which restaurant to eat during your visit, you need to have it all planned if you want to save a bit. You also want to maximize your time and, above all, have fun during your trip.
Disney vacations are perfect for families, but you don’t need to be a kid to enjoy it. But you do need to have a working adult’s income if you want to go. There are plenty of tips and tricks that will help you make the most out of your vacation. Please read below on how to make your Disney experience the best it can be.
Choosing the right vacation spot
Before planning for your next big getaway, choosing the right place is crucial. If you’re the adventurous type, maybe you’d prefer the great outdoors. If you’re more laid back, perhaps beaches and theme parks would be more up your alley. Know what kinds of activity you would enjoy and see if the place you want to go to cater to them.
It is also important to be familiar with your chosen vacation spot, even if it’s just through research. Try and familiarize yourself with routes, roads, and nearby places to the place you’re visiting. This way, your likelihood of getting lost will be significantly lower. Not to mention, you’ll have so much more fun if you’re looking forward to where you’re going.
Planning the perfect Disney World getaway
There’s nothing more magical than a trip to the beloved Walt Disney World Resort. Some international theme parks’ limited options leave you wanting for more but not Disney — you have the Disney Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Disney Magic Kingdom, Disney Dining plans, and so many more attractions. Making sure to visit every one of them will take more than a few days, seeing that Disney World is twice the size of Manhattan.
To fully enjoy your trip and make the most of what you have paid for, there are a few tips and tricks that could help you. However, note that some of the protocols, prices, and other factors for planning the perfect Disney World vacation may have changed due to the pandemic. As the United States and the rest of the world are starting to get everything back up again, this may be your chance to use still that Park Hopper ticket you booked on sale last year.
Plan your entire trip
Unless you paid the hefty sum of booking a Disney World vacation package that includes everything such as accommodations, theme park tickets, meals, and everything else, you might want to plan out an itinerary beforehand. If you want to keep a tight leash on your budget, don’t get sidetracked by the many enticing activities and photo booths you’ll come across on your tour. Also, look up the schedules of theme parks, shows, and fireworks so you can make the most out of your visit.
Buy tickets beforehand
Theme park tickets are expensive. There’s no going around that. This has more to do with the fact that they are a luxury rather than a necessity, so people will pay up if they want to go to one. If you can find a theme park reservation for tickets before your visit, book it.
The earlier, the better, as tickets will likely be cheaper. There are plenty of third-party booking companies that sell discounted tickets, including Disney World’s theme parks. If you are going in groups, you would probably save more by buying your tickets in bundles.
Book hotels nearby
Disney resort hotels are quite expensive — they can range from $300 up to a thousand grand per night. If you can afford them, they’re a great option and can even save you a couple of dollars on parking fees, shuttle services, and hotel meals.
There are also cheap hotels and Disney value hotels near the much cheaper park, but they might not be the most glamorous option if you want luxurious accommodations. You also have the choice of camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort for an awesome outdoor adventure.
Visit on non-peak hours and days.
While visiting on holidays makes for a memorable family trip, millions of others will think so too. The holiday rush is a nightmare when it comes to crowds and lines at Disney World. Think Christmas rush but times a dozen because all of the locals and tourists want to see the magic of Disney during the wintertime.
Not to mention, the prices will be much higher because of the high demand from visitors. Try to go on weekdays instead of weekends. You’d be leaving Walt Disney World with a happier experience if you didn’t wait for over two hours for one ride.
Take advantage of free activities and tours.
Disney World is its small universe. There are so many rides you can barely count or remember them all. From water parks to forests to castles to anything Disney-related and beyond, they probably have it. The good news? Not all of them require money for entry.
Apart from your main ticket for entrance at Disney World, they have free boat rides, plenty of attractions to take pictures with, and see some of the best performances by your favorite characters. Look up these free activities and see if you can try out some of them.
Look up restaurants in advance and bring your snacks.
Here’s something not every visitor knows: you can bring your food and drinks to Disney World. Well, so long as they come in non-hazardous materials like glass. Bringing quick snacks and a reusable water bottle will help you save a lot on food.
You can also look for restaurants in advance and maybe book a reservation to know which ones are worth spending money on. If you are traveling with kids, bringing candies and juice packs will help keep them hydrated — but don’t give them too much, or you’ll end up with a toddler on a sugar rush in the most magical place on Earth.
Be responsible
What do you need with you for a fun day in theme parks? Make sure to pack ahead but don’t overpack. You don’t want to carry a five-pound backpack while touring a huge area like Disney World. Bring the essentials like towels, sunscreen, wallet, identification cards, water bottle, some snacks, and a few other things you think you will need throughout the day.
Be responsible for your companions and yourself. If you are bringing kids, make sure to have them in your line of sight at all times. If you are all adults, be sure to have a way to contact one another in case you get separated.
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How much does the average Disney World vacation cost?
There’s no going around the fact that a Disney World vacation would cost more than a few hundred bucks, especially if you’re going in groups. For a family of four with two children, the average cost would be around $5,200 or more in 2021. You can always go by yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, many people would agree that theme parks are much more fun with plenty of companions.
Another way to save some vacation money is to go on off-peak seasons. If you can, schedule your trip from Mid-January to early March and late August to the end of September. Though booking rates may also vary depending on certain factors, these months are usually the cheapest. Some rides and theme parks also adjust ticket prices, but you can monitor them via booking apps or websites and see if you can score them at their lowest prices.
How old do you have to be to visit Disney World?
They say you are never too old to be a Disney fan — and they’re right! Adults can come and go as they please whenever they want. Unsupervised children, however, have an age limit. You have to be over 14 years old to enter Disney World on your own.
Kids below that age need an adult to be with them at all times. This is mostly a safety precaution to prevent children from getting lost or being put in danger due to large crowds. As for the adults, you can be 18 or 80 years old. It doesn’t matter. Disney World is a friendly place for people of all ages to enjoy.
Summary
With Walt Disney World opening in 1965, millions of visitors came and loved the place. Your beloved characters, both old and new, have found a home within the thousands of acres the theme park occupies. If you ever feel nostalgic or want to have a fun day out with your family and friends, consider going to Disney World for a quick getaway. For Orlando locals in Florida, the theme park has been a huge part of their tourism and continues to be a magical place for all.
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